CVE-2025-10181 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Draft List plugin for WordPress, developed by dartiss. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.6 of the plugin. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes in the plugin's 'drafts' shortcode. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary malicious scripts into pages via the shortcode attributes. These scripts are then stored persistently and executed in the browsers of any users who view the infected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond page access and does not require higher privileges than contributor-level, making it relatively accessible within compromised or insider threat scenarios. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, no user interaction, and a scope change due to impact on other components. The impact includes limited confidentiality and integrity loss but no availability impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no official patches have been linked at the time of publication.

For European organizations using WordPress websites with the Draft List plugin installed, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for sites that allow contributor-level users to manage content. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can inject malicious JavaScript that executes in the browsers of site visitors, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to phishing sites, or performing actions on behalf of users with elevated privileges. This can lead to data breaches, defacement, or reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as media, education, government, and e-commerce that rely on WordPress for content management are particularly at risk. The cross-site scripting nature of the vulnerability means that even internal users with limited privileges can compromise the integrity of the site and affect external users. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe and the ease of exploitation, this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or automated campaigns. However, the requirement for contributor-level access limits exploitation to insiders or attackers who have already compromised an account, reducing the risk of mass exploitation but increasing the threat from insider threats or compromised credentials.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Draft List plugin and verify the version in use. Since no official patch links are provided, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of account compromise. 2) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode attribute inputs that may contain script tags or JavaScript payloads. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 4) Conduct manual code reviews or apply temporary input sanitization filters on the shortcode attributes if possible, to neutralize script injection vectors until an official patch is released. 5) Monitor website logs and user activity for signs of exploitation or unusual behavior. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content validation policies. 7) Plan for rapid deployment of patches once available and subscribe to vendor or security mailing lists for updates.